Chapter One
"Yes, yes, exactly like that, Miss Lucy. Perfect!" The photographer cheered, changing his own position with every picture he took. Lucy was currently in a studio, white linen behind her and giant lights in front of her to cast the perfect scenery for the beautiful dress she was displaying: a dark red one, that was bound in a chokehold around her neck and had a high slit on each thigh. She wore high heels in the exact same shade of red and translucent white gloves that reached up to her upper arms, but no jewellery. The photographer had decided that Lucy's own beauty was already splendid enough. She had just giggled and told him to stop making her blush.
"And now put a hand on your hip! Pout! Smile! Squat down! Perfect, Miss Lucy. You are fantastic!"
She might have looked good, but Lucy still felt like she was a mannequin in a showcase. She didn't really like the photo shootings for all the magazines, though she enjoyed wearing the new dresses. She would much rather have met her friends for a cup of tea or simply read a book today, since it was Sunday, but her father had insisted on her to go. He said it was good for publicity, and Lucy knew that every time he spoke of publicity any fight from her side was useless.
Jude Heartfilia was a businessman, after all. As the head of the great Heartfilia Konzern, a company that produced and distributed all kinds of chemical products, from medicine over skin care to make up, he had little time for his family, which in this place consisted of just Lucy. Her mother had died years before, and Lucy just couldn't shake the feeling that her death was part of the reason why her father avoided her company so much and would rather work every waking minute. After all, she looked exactly like her mother Layla. Same big brown eyes, glowing blonde hair, curvy figure. It was genetics, really, though Lucy made sure to support those lucky genes with a healthy diet and lots of exercise.
»One last dress, Miss Lucy. We're almost done." The photographer announced and she went back to her room to get changed. That was part of the deal they had made. Lucy stood model for the dresses, but she would still get her privacy while getting changed. She had never liked to get changed in front of others, not even the maids who would help her into the complicated dresses for her father's parties, so it was a relief that she could do it by herself here.
The new dress was of a light rosé colour, with a heart shaped décolleté and reaching down to her shins. The bodice was tight around her chest until her waist, and changed then to a flowing skirt embroidered with beautiful flowers and butterflies. It was more comfortable than the red one, though the high heeled sandals that came with it were anything but that.
"I'm ready." She called, and a girl entered to change her make up from the darker tones for the red dress to lighter ones that suited the light one. She also changed her hair into a half-up-half-down style and curled the flowing locks with a curling iron.
"Here you go, beautiful as always." The girl smiled, and Lucy smiled back. The last dress took the longest to photograph, probably because it suited her the best, much to her dismay. She had been sick of modelling already when they were only at the second dress.
When the shooting was finally over, and Lucy had changed back into her own black shirt and red skirt, combined with a pair of black over knees and a red purse, the photographer held her up one last time, shaking her hand enthusiastically.
"Thank you so much for coming today, Miss Lucy. I'm really looking forward to the article The Sorcerer Weekly will write. Hopefully, we will have once again the pleasure of working together!" He chattered cheerfully, but even though Lucy gave him a nod and a polite smile, she couldn't share his enthusiasm. The Sorcerer Weekly might have been a big number regarding celebrities and business people, but when it came to women their portraits were rather sexist. They wrote about their skin care routines or what their secrets for their perfect bodies were, which wasn't a wrong thing to do, but still quite annoying when it was the only thing they wrote about women when at the same time they asked men about the secrets to their success or what they would recommend young businesspeople to boost their own businesses.
Photoshoots like that always drained her and she couldn't quite comprehend what could be so interesting about her showing off dresses she would never wear again. She had a great body, so what? So had countless other women. It wasn't even an achievement, just lucky genetics. That was what she disliked the most, wasn't it? Everyone cared for her beauty and her seemingly perfect body, but nobody really acknowledged her brains. Lucy was smart. She loved to read, and she studied astronomy for fun alongside physics and chemistry, which she needed to take over the company one day. Many of her teachers had said that her intelligence was way above the average, and she quite prided herself in that. It bothered her that all those magazines and talk shows only cared about her looks and whether she had already found a husband or not. She wasn't even looking for a husband, and would much rather spend another few years realizing herself, but she was well aware of her role as an idol. And she didn't like the fact that all those young girls only ever got to see her beauty, but never once heard a word of her intelligence. She would love to show them how important it was to cultivate one's intellect or to care about one's grades rather than their looks.
"Miss Lucy, are you ready to leave?" The driver asked politely, shaking Lucy out of her thoughts. She hadn't even realized that she was already standing by the edge of the street, in front of the car door he held open for her. She nodded and gave him a small smile, before she entered.
Once the car started, she decided to check her phone, feeling a little lighter at the sight of the messages her friends had sent during her shooting in their group chat Fairy Tail. She didn't even remember how they had found such a strange name, but she didn't really mind. It sounded funny, and thoughtless, and so unlike everything else in her life.
Levy: sent a picture
Levy: Hey Ladies, what do you think of that? It's a party thrown by Sting Eucliffe, this super-hot singer I was telling you about. It's this weekend, and the perfect opportunity for a girl's night out.
Upon further inspection the picture Levy had sent was, in fact, a flyer, held in silver, blue and purple tones and with a picture of Sting Eucliffe himself up front, showing a wide smile and finger guns. On it there were written his name, the date, and the location.
Juvia: Yes! I'd love to come! I even heard he's single!
Erza: Isn't that that blonde twink who only recently left Sabertooth to become a solo artist? What a snob.
Levy: Yes, exactly. Except, he's not a twink, Erza! He sings really good, and not even you can deny that he's good-looking.
Juvia: He has a voice like an angel, you uncultured strawberry!
Lucy let out a chuckle before replying. The bickering of her friends always eased her tight nerves a bit.
Lucy: I'd love to come, but I'm afraid my father won't let me… He doesn't like such events.
Erza: Then we'll sneak you out, like we did before.
Levy: Of course! We can't go without you, Lu!
Juvia: And we'll dress you up again, so that nobody recognizes you. You still got the wig, don't you?
Lucy: Of course I still got the wig, you guys gifted it to me. I would never throw that away!
Levy: Naww, you're so cute!
Lucy: But do you think that will be enough to hide me from the paparazzi?
Erza: Of course, and if anything happens, we will cover for you to run away.
Juvia: Yes!
Lucy: Thanks, guys! This means the world to me!
Smiling, she put her phone away. They were already driving up the lane that led to her estate.
When the car halted, a maid was already there to open the car door for Lucy, and she gave her a gratuitous smile, before climbing up the steps to where another maid, Leto, was waiting.
"Welcome home, Miss Lucy. How was your photoshoot?" She smiled politely and made a small bow.
"I'm glad to see you too, Leto. The photoshoot was alright, I guess. The photographer was very enthusiastic." Lucy answered with just the same polite smile, though it seemed a little tired.
"Aren't they always?" Leto said warmly, and Lucy nodded in agreement. They were, and she wasn't sure if it was because of her name or if they acted like this around any kind of celebrity.
"Seems so."
"Mr Heartfilia is in his study. He wanted you to join him there as soon as you came back from your photoshoot."
"Did he say why?" Lucy sighed, mentally already preparing for the uncomfortable encounter. It was almost noon, and all she wanted was to get back to her studies and maybe eat a bite. She had a big project coming up and didn't want to waste any more time by doing pointless stuff like being photographed and complimented.
"I am afraid not, Miss Lucy, but he does have guests." Leto answered as she led her up the stairs, feeling sorry for the girl. She knew her all too well, knowing how busy her life was and how little room she had for herself.
"Guests? Anyone I know?" This caught Lucy's attention. Guests at the estate were rather unusual, and when there were any, she never got to meet them on purpose. She had once accidentally encountered a business partner of her father, who was storming off due to some deal that hadn't worked out the way he had wanted to. After his temper tantrum Jude decided to hold meetings of that kind in the company rather than at his own home.
"I don't think so, Miss. They arrived right after you left, and have been exploring the house since, but I don't recall having seen them around here before." Leto explained and made a small bow when they arrived at the doors to Jude Heartfilia's study. Lucy took a deep breath and knocked, wondering about why her father's guests would roam around the house. Did he hire a new team of bodyguards?
"Yes?" Jude's voice sounded, and she entered.
The study was big, with high ceilings and made of dark wood. It was full of bookshelves and diplomas hanging on the walls. In the middle, right in front of a giant window, was Jude Heartfilia's heavy wooden desk, and behind it, in a big leather chair, sat the man himself. He wore a dark brown suit, his blond hair, that was just a little darker than Lucy's, combed back meticulously, and his piercing gaze directed right at her. It made her feel immediately uncomfortable, since usually he barely looked up from his work when he requested to talk to her. But today everything seemed to be different.
"Ah, Lucy. You're back." He stated and Lucy nodded, averting her eyes.
"Yes, father."
Only then did she see the woman sitting in one of the heavy chairs across from Jude. She had big blue eyes and gorgeous white locks, which she had bound up in a high ponytail. They must be dyed, Lucy thought to herself, because the woman could only be a few years older than her. She gave Lucy a welcoming smile as she took in her black turtleneck and suit. As far as Lucy could see, she wore a skirt that fitted the blazer rather than pants.
A little farther, half hidden in the shadows of the bookshelves, Lucy spotted a man, wearing a black long-sleeved sweater and dark grey cargo pants. He had his arms crossed behind his back, and apart from his salmon-coloured hair Lucy couldn't recognise anything about his face.
"This is Miss Mirajane Strauss, head of Strauss and Co." Jude introduced the white-haired woman who in turn stood up and held her hand out for Lucy to shake. Frowning, she took it and realized that the woman would be visibly higher than her even without her heels.
"Strauss and Co. as in the security agency?"
"Exactly. I feel flattered that you have heard of us already."
"Only bits. I have heard you're supposed to be the best." Lucy smiled, meaning her words as a challenge. When she could get rid of those who claimed to be the best, her father would be out of options.
Mirajane returned a smile so sickly sweet that Lucy knew she had understood the meaning of her words exactly but didn't take it as an insult. That was interesting. "That is what people say, though I would not be so audacious as to say so myself. I like to let my records speak and my clients decide."
"I have hired Miss Strauss and her people because of certain threats I have been receiving lately, and since I will be gone more often for business trips in the near future." Jude explained and watched Mirajane stand by the side of his desk.
"Death threats?" Lucy questioned, not quite comprehending the reason for the sudden situation just yet. But death threats were nothing unusual among their circles, so what could have been so bad that he hired someone like Mirajane Strauss?
"Among other things, yes. In order to not restrict your freedom, they will accompany you every time you leave the estate and will guard the estate itself at all times, too." In order not to restrict your freedom, Lucy could have barked out a laugh. Jude did not care for her freedom, he cared for her publicity meetings, for photoshoots and interviews. If it was just about her freedom or even her studies, he would gladly keep her at home with the best teachers he could find.
"I understand." Lucy nodded, and so did Jude. She was dismissed and went to her own study in order to begin with her studies, and to start making plans on how to get rid of her new babysitters once again.
Lucy: Guess who just got a new set of bodyguards.
Natsu knew the girl was special the moment she entered her father's study. The way she carried herself, the way she smiled and talked. She hated the idea of bodyguards, and if it hadn't been obvious from how stiff she had become the moment she realized who Mirajane was, he would have known at least by her files. Or the deadly smile she had sent her boss. A challenge, no doubt.
Lucy Heartfilia had a track record of getting rid of both bodyguards and suitors within only a few weeks. It seemed that her game had even levelled up over time. Be it her scaring them away by being bratty and insufferable, or simply by proving them not fit for the job of protecting her by sneaking out in the middle of the night and getting photographed by some paparazzi, she had gotten rid of them all. That's why Jude Heartfilia had contacted Mirajane, whose agency was said to be the best. Especially after the death threats and the failed attempt to break into the estate, which he probably hadn't told his daughter about, he just needed to be sure that the heir to his company was in safe hands.
"My daughter is to be guarded at all times, do you understand, Miss Strauss?" His deep voice cut the silence, and Natsu turned his gaze from the door to the man. Mirajane nodded, gifting him her sweetest smile. It was part of her work concept, to be sweet and seem innocent. In reality she was the most dangerous person Natsu had ever encountered, and they both had been high tiers in the military before taking on their job as bodyguards. She believed that potential threats would underestimate her for her good looks and sugary words and make the mistake of coming forward, which gave her the opportunity to not only keep them far from her protégés, but also eliminate the threat emanating from them one way or another, constantly. And so far, her tactic had always worked, without exception. Dangerous men seemed to just love to underestimate kind women.
"Do not worry, Mr Heartfilia. You made the right choice to entrust Miss Lucy to us."
"Well, well. I guess time will tell if your words are as honourable as they sound. You can go catch up with the rest of your team now." He dismissed them and Mirajane stood up, made a polite bow, and motioned for Natsu to follow her. While Lucy's words had been a challenge, his were a warning. If they couldn't deliver the way he wished, he would get rid of them immediately.
Once the door fell shut behind them, the white-haired woman let out a sigh. "So, what's your impression?" She asked, and Natsu started walking down the hallway. While Mirajane had been signing legal documents alongside Mr Heartfilia, he had taken a quick look around the house, so that he would be able to know his way around once the job actually started. He knew exactly where Mirajane wanted to go to next.
"Of the girl or her father?" He asked.
"Tell me both."
"He seems to care for her safety, obviously, but not the way a loving father would. He cares the way an owner of some precious artifact would, and she knows. Their relationship is awful, to say the least, and believing the research I did it's not even surprising. She hates how planned out her life is, and even more than that she hates bodyguards." He stated and watched as Mirajane chuckled softly.
"Oh, that seems about accurate. You remember what we talked about the other day?"
"About how I'm to act around her?"
"Yeah. Be careful. I have a feeling that she will make it harder on you than the others."
Now it was Natsu's turn to sigh. Yes, she probably would. But he wasn't Natsu if he would let that get in his way.
Stopping in front of the girl's study, he raised his hand to knock, waiting for her soft voice to call them in.
Lucy Heartfilia's study was very different from her father's. It was packed with books, too, but where his seemed to be a bunch of classics that were bought solely for the purpose of making him look wealthy and intelligent, hers seemed to be personal. There were novels, and books about all kinds of scientific ranges or biographies about scientists and activists, and a whole shelf was packed with just what must be her old schoolbooks. Her desk was of lighter wood and an almost white colour, but even larger in space than his, and there were pens and markers of all colours neatly organized on it, right next to a big computer screen. In front of the chimney on the side wall there was a small coffee table, surrounded by armchairs and a small couch. On the table there was a staple of novels. The room seemed cosy, and personal.
"Oh, Miss Mirajane. I wasn't expecting you to come and see me." Lucy smiled confusedly and stood up from the chair behind her desk, starting to walk around it. Natsu couldn't help but let his gaze roam her body again. It was gorgeous, to say the least. She had all the right curves in all the right places, wasn't too tall either and seemed quite delicate. Her beautiful blonde locks framed her pretty face, and he could see that she wore only little makeup to accentuate her natural beauty. The girl was absolutely stunning.
Mirajane giggled. "Please, call me Mira. You don't have to be so formal around me. I'm here because I wanted to talk some things through with you personally and thought that you might feel better if your father wasn't present."
This seemed to make the girl insecure, and she furrowed her brows in confusion.
"Sure. Would you like to take a seat?" She motioned for the armchairs in front of the chimney and Mirajane nodded. Once they were sat down opposite each other, Natsu went to stand behind his boss. Lucy gave him a polite smile, which he returned.
"To not beat about the bush, I'm sure you already noticed Natsu." Mirajane introduced him and he nodded when she glanced up to him.
"He is my best man, and while my whole team will constantly care about the safety of you and your family, he will be your personal bodyguard. He will accompany you to university and to all kinds of other events. I'm afraid he will even be there when you just meet friends, as your father requested." To Natsu it was obvious that Lucy hated every word coming out of her mouth, and yet she kept up a perfect smile. She didn't blame Mira, he realized, even though she would make her job as hard as possible.
"What I wanted to ask you was, do you have a boyfriend, Miss Lucy?" Mirajane continued, earning a confused look from Lucy. For a moment, she didn't seem to know what to say.
"Why is that relevant?"
"Because of the current situation, it would be an advantage if it wasn't too obvious that Natsu is your bodyguard. Since he will be around you every time you leave the estate, a practical tactic would be for him to pretend to be your boyfriend. Only if you are comfortable with that, of course." She quickly added, but Lucy didn't seem entirely convinced yet. "You would not have to do anything you don't like, just introduce him as such. If you do not want to go with this possibility, we can arrange some other cover story, of course. Our job is to take care about your safety while keeping you as comfortable as possible, so please don't hold back with criticism."
Lucy stayed awfully quiet for some minutes, thinking it all through. Eventually she nodded, giving Mirajane a smile that seemed a lot more honest and also mischievous than all the smiles she had put up before. Natsu swallowed hard at the wicked gleam in her angelic brown eyes. "If this is the best possibility, then I should not be the one to turn it down."
"Great. I will leave you two to talk everything through then and check up on the rest of the team. I wish you a nice afternoon, Miss Lucy." Mirajane stood up and bowed, before leaving the room in calm strides. When the door clicked shut behind her, Natsu turned his gaze towards Lucy.
"Will it be possible to tell the truth to my closest friends?"
"I'm afraid that I might have to advise against it." Upon hearing his voice for thew first time, Lucy gave him an odd look.
"Just advise? Then I will tell them." She said, such finality in her voice that he knew, no matter what he would say would not find any soil to grow on.
"Is there anything else you would like to talk through or ask?" She questioned and stood up.
"No, Miss. I will remain here in the study with you, though." She nodded before turning around and returning to her studies. Natsu decided to roam through her bookshelves in the meantime.
He was currently studying an entire shelf full of astronomy books, wondering how someone could ever read something like that without banging their head against a wall, when Lucy cleared her throat behind him. Startled, he turned around, only to find her standing only centimetres beside him. How had she gotten there so quietly?
"Do you like astronomy, Natsu?" She purred, staring right up at him with her big brown doe eyes. He tried not to let it show how much impact they had on him.
He shook his head. "Can't say I do, Miss. If anything, I'm more of psychology guy."
"Psychology, huh?" She responded, inching closer. "Call me Lucy, will you?"
"If you wish me to." He swallowed. What reaction was she trying to get out of him?
"I do. I've had psychology classes for some years myself. Loved them, though I had no time for them anymore upon entering university." She murmured, curious eyes roaming over his chest muscles and biceps before she raised them to stare right back into his. "Have you ever been to university, Natsu?"
"I'm afraid not. After finishing high school, I went straight to the military." He responded, not sure as to why he was even telling her. He usually didn't talk about his personal life to his clients.
"The military? So, you really are a tough guy…" Lucy stated, laying a hand on his arm. Only then Natsu realised that she was purposefully manipulating him, bringing him out of the concept. He shook her arm off and hardened his gaze.
"Yes, I am. May I help you with anything, Miss Lucy?"
Looking up at him, and seeing the change in his expression, Lucy smirked. The game had begun.
"Please, call me Lucy." She repeated and turned away, walking back to her desk. With furrowed brows Natsu stared at her retreating figure, swearing that her skirt was higher up than it had been in her father's study.
She wanted to play games, huh? Good thing he was a player then.